§ 6. Mr. HENDERSON STEWARTasked the Secretary for Mines what has been the effect on the coal trade in the East of Scotland in terms of increased men employed, wages paid, coal exported and sold at home, of the various trade agreements made by the present Government; and whether he can supply similar figures for the county of Fife?
The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)As the answer is long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. STEWARTIs the Minister not able to give the House a general idea whether a large increase has taken place?
Captain CROOKSHANKYes, a very large increase has taken place. The increase in tonnage represents the working of approximately 1,280,000 additional man shifts. On the basis of the average earning per shift, it represents for Scotland as a whole in 1934 £560,000 in wages.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Coal exports from Scottish East Coast Ports to the countries with which trade agreements have been concluded making special provision for coal, namely, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Argentina, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Germany and France were 3,505,686 tons in 1934 as compared with 1,912,246 tons in 1931, an increase of 1,593,440 tons. This increase in tonnage represents the working of approximately 1,280,000 additional manshifts, and on the basis of average earnings per shift in Scotland as a whole in 1934, about £560,000 in wages. Similar information in regard to the County of Fife is not available and I am unable to give any estimate of the effect of the trade agreements on coal sold at home.